Unani Medicine Treats Chronic Viral Hepatitis

The Central Council for Research in Unani medicine, under Hakim Syed Khaleefatullah has been researching alternative treatments for infective Hepatitis for many years using a preparation called Tukhm-e-Kasni. A large study was carried out at the Regional Research Institute which involved 290 cases of patients who were suffering from Hepatitis. Out of these, 82 had complete remission within 10 days of treatment, 97 cases were cured after 20 days and 87 cases were cured within 30 days. The need of the hour is to repeat such studies using double blind controls to effectively verify the efficacy of the data obtained.

The main ingredient of Tukhm-e-Kasni is the Kasni(Cichorium intybus) herb, which is widely used in Unani medicine.

The method of preparing this concoction is fairly simple. Some honey is heated on a stove and a patented Unani medicine called Naushader is added to it. Let the mixture cool and after cooling, the dried fruit of the Kasni plant is powdered and added to the mixture to form a paste. Adults are administered 10 to 15 grams of this paste before meals.

Another herbal treatment for Hepatitis that is being tested in Japan is the use of Glycyrrhizin, which is obtained from the plant Glycyrrhizae radix. This is then administered intravenously. Multi-centered double blind trials on patients have shown that Glycyrrhizin reduces the raised level of enzymes typical to Viral Hepatitis.

There have also been trials involving a preparation called TJ-9 which is made of seven crude drugs. One of the main ingredients of TJ-9 is the root of the plant Bupleuri radix. Tests carried out on 80 patients indicate that this combination is effective in treating Viral Hepatitis.

Another herbal alternative to Hepatitis treatment involves the use of a substance called gomisin which is obtained from the fruit of the Schizandrae fructus. This has been tested on animals and induces a hepatoprotective effect when administered. Tests on humans are pending and will hopefully yield successful results.